Minnie Miñoso

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File:Minoso9.jpgMinnie Miñoso [mean-YO-so] (born November 291922 in Havana [or Matanzas Province?], Cuba), born Saturnino Orestes Armas Miñoso Arrieta, is a former star left fielder in Major League Baseball. He had earlier been a standout third baseman in the Negro Leagues, and would later play several seasons in Mexican baseball. He was nicknamed "The Cuban Comet" as well as "Mr. White Sox", and while playing in Mexico was "El Charro Negro" -- "The Black Cowboy". He is one of just two players in major league history to play in five separate decades (1940s-80s), the other being Nick Altrock. With brief appearances with the independent Northern League's St. Paul Saints in 1993 and 2003, Miñoso is the only player to have played professionally in 7 different decades. He was also the last major leaguer to have played in the 1940s to play a major league game.

In 1976, after several years playing in Mexico, Miñoso returned to play three games with the White Sox. He picked up one single in eight at bats, becoming at age 53 the second-oldest player ever to get a base hit in the major leagues (Hall of Famer Jim O'Rourke was the oldest when hit safely at age 54 on September 22, 1904). Miñoso returned to appear in two more games with the Sox in 1980. His five stints with Chicago cemented his image as a local baseball icon for at least three generations of Chisox fans. When the last game was played at the old Comiskey Park on September 30, 1990, Miñoso was invited to present the White Sox lineup card to the umpires in the pregame ceremonies at home plate. He did so while wearing the new uniform debuted by the White Sox that day, his familiar number 9 on the back.

In his 1980 appearance at age 57, Minoso was the oldest player ever to play in the majors. He would have made an appearance in 1990 and become the only professional to play in six decades if Major League Baseball had not overuled the minor league Miami Miracles organization on the idea. However, at age 80, in 2003 appeared in a professional baseball game by drawing a walk for the independent minor-league St. Paul Saints, becoming the only player to appear professionally in seven different decades.

Minnie took part in the victory parade for the Chicago White Sox 2005 World Series Championship.

In November 2005, Miñoso's name was placed on a special ballot of Negro League players to be voted upon by a special committee of Negro Leagues historians and scholars, though he did not win induction. Miñoso remains on the Veterans Committee ballot for the Hall of Fame as of 2006.